HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 10
Group Family: Generic - Policy
Job Description: Head of Policy
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2087_Generic - Head of Policy_v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Unclassified
Date of Issue
16/7/2019
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Head of Group
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-2087_Generic - Head of Policy_v2.0
HQ Job Description
Job Title
Head of Policy
Group Family
Generic - Policy
Band
10
Overview of the job
This is a senior manager post based in HQ, reporting directly to a Deputy Director and
will be a member of the Senior Management Team
Summary
The job holder will have experience of leading and delivering wide ranging policies
and procedures to demonstrably improve outcomes for a complex organisation. This
is to be delivered by providing strategic leadership to their respective team/s to
support, challenge and improve the delivery of measurable improvements in
outcomes.
They will lead the team ensuring that the necessary systems, processes, evidence,
strategic links and relationships are in place to continually develop and introduce new
and revised policies to allow effective and legitimate use of policy.
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of high quality democratic
services to Parliament and Ministers - delivering accurate, timely and clear briefings.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities & Duties
and duties:
? Provide strategic direction and leadership to the Policy Team.
? Accountable for ensuring that existing policies remain current and to identify
and address areas of weakness, ambiguity or inconsistency.
? Assure NOMS compliance with legislation, government policy and best
practice in relation to the specific policy area
? Engage with senior representatives of stakeholders Policy decision makers
to identify and develop the future needs of policy
? Representing NOMS in meetings with outside organisations and stakeholders
and Other Government Departments.
? Develop and manage the commissioning of a research and analysis
programme to policy and decision making, including leading meetings with
senior research and policy staff from NOMS, MOJ, and other Government
Departments to ensure research and analysis outputs inform and improve
policy in order to more effectively meet operational requirements
? Commission legal advice where necessary
? Accountable for day-to-day advice given by others in unit on lower level
issues - ensure that staff understand the importance of accurate and timely
advice and that they are not impinging on the operational decision making
? Accountable for the various programmes of project work (initiatives) within
the team
? Accountable for identifying policy design taking into account the strategic
priorities of the organisation and/or Ministerial priorities and/or identified
threats.
? Assuring NOMS compliance with legislation, government policy and best
practice in relation to policy
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.
HQ-JES-2087_Generic - Head of Policy_v2.0
Behaviours
? Seeing the Big Picture
? Making Effective Decisions
? Delivering at Pace
? Working Together
? Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Essential Experience
N.B. Converting job descriptions to the new Success Profile format means areas
captured in experience could also be assessed as a strength. Vacancy managers
should use their own judgement to decide where best to assess these.
? Excellent analytical skills in understanding trends.
? Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Technical
? Wide knowledge of the strategic priorities of the organisation
requirements
? Comprehensive knowledge of procedures for working with and briefing
Ministers and Parliament
? Evidence of political awareness in sensitive areas such as dealing with young
people policy, courts & judiciary and rights groups such as Liberty.
? Wide-ranging knowledge of policy development procedures within NOMS.
Ability
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
? All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up
post.
? All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal
candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a
probationary period within HMPPS.
? All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
HQ-JES-2087_Generic - Head of Policy_v2.0
Success Profile
Experience
N.B. Converting job descriptions to
Strengths
the new Success Profile format
Behaviours
Ability
means areas captured in
Technical
experience could also be assessed
as a strength. Vacancy managers
should use their own judgement to
decide where best to assess these
It is advised strengths
Excellent written and verbal
Wide knowledge of the strategic
Seeing the Big Picture
are chosen locally,
communication skills
priorities of the organisation
recommended 4-8.
Evidence of political awareness in
Excellent analytical skills in
sensitive areas such as dealing with
Making Effective Decisions
understanding trends
young people policy, courts & judiciary
and rights groups such as Liberty
Wide-ranging knowledge of policy
Delivering at Pace
development procedures within HMPPS
Comprehensive knowledge of
Working Together
procedures for working with and
briefing Ministers and Parliament
Communicating and Influencing
HQ-JES-2087_Generic - Head of Policy_v2.0